Genesis chapter 1 verses 1 through 5 teach us that when GOD created the heaven and the earth, the latter was without form and void. In Hebrew, the term is ‘tohu va vohu’. It was not so with the heaven, and the implication is that something happened to bring earth into a state of chaos and disorder after it had been created. Something that needed further action on GOD’s part in order to restore it to a normal state.
Darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of GOD moved upon the face of the waters.
GOD was about to end the darkness.
The first word of GOD was a command. Let there be light, and there was light.
But not that light that the sun and the moon provide, since they had not yet been created. The light of that first day was the light of GOD. The light that was independent of the sun, the moon, or the stars. GOD then moved to separate between the light and the darkness, which meant that He did not abolish darkness, but limited it. He called the light ‘Day’, and the darkness ‘Night’. Thus ended the first day, a day of new beginnings. The deep was no longer clothed in darkness, and although the waters of the deep covered the face of the earth,
that was soon going to change.
In all that we have said so far, we believe that this literally took place. It is as true and as real as you and we are. Creation is an historical event, and explains where this world came from. In Psalm 33, verse 8 and 9 we read these Words: Let all the earth hear the LORD! Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood fast.
We can use this account of creation as a picture of GOD’s most important creatures, Adam and Eve. Let us follow the analogy and see what we can learn from it. First of all, in the beginning GOD created man and woman in His own image. Genesis 1, verse 26 and 27: And GOD said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image after Our likeness. So GOD created man in His Own image, in the image of GOD created He him. Male and female created He them.
As we follow the account, we find that man did not continue long in the state in which he was created. He chose to disobey GOD, to go his own way, and to assert his will over the will of GOD. The result was disaster. His light was extinguished; he became a stranger to GOD, and he ended up a child of darkness. Genesis 3, verse 8: And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD GOD amongst the trees of the garden.
In a real sense, his spiritual condition resembles that of the earth after it was created. Adam’s condition was now ‘tohu va vohu’ without form and void, chaos and disorder reigned supreme. The light of the knowledge of GOD had gone, and in its place there was darkness and ignorance with all their attendant evils. Psalm 14, verses 2 and 3: The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek GOD. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no not one.
Thank GOD that is not the end of the story! GOD was not finished with man, and just as the Spirit of GOD hovered over the darkness and the deep, so now, He hovered over fallen, sinful mankind with the benevolent purpose of bringing light into the human heart. The waters described in the creation history are analogous to the confused, troubled condition of the heart that is without GOD. Many times in the Tanakh this picture is used of sinful humanity. Isaiah 57, verses 20 and 21: But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. ‘There is no peace,’ saith my GOD, to the wicked.
If it were not for GOD’s initiative, this lamentable state of humanity would remain unaltered. But GOD has moved in Sovereign Grace, and has commanded Light to shine into our darkened hearts. Nor is this a physical light, as that which the sun and moon and starts provide. No, this is a supernatural Light independent of them, and taking precedence over them. It is the Light of GOD that brings to an end our spiritual darkness and ignorance. With the coming of that Light, the first day of a new life has begun for the happy soul. The lost image of GOD is restored, and we begin to revert back to what we were before the fall of man. All these benefits and blessings are handed down to us through the One described for us in Isaiah, Chapter 9, verses 2 and 6: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them, hath the Light shined. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And He will be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty GOD, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
These are some of the titles reserved for our Messiah, our Redeemer. He alone can put an end to our darkness by His coming. He is our Light and our Salvation. Psalm 22 has as its title, ‘Upon Aijeleth Shahar’, which one of our famous commentators paraphrased in the words, concerning the Morning Star. Messiah is that Morning Star, the One who ends our darkness by fulfilling what is written of Him in this Psalm. Among other things written, we have the prophecy of His death, through suffering the penalty that was due to the ones He came to save. Verses 16 and 18:
For dogs have compassed me, the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me. They pierced my hands and my feet; they part my garments among them, and cast lots for my vesture.
As our Divinely Appointed Substitute, our Messiah took our place and our punishment. In His Person, He endured the hostility of man toward GOD, and GOD’s just retribution for that enmity. As it is written in Isaiah 59, verse 20: ‘And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob’, saith the LORD.
The grand outcome is described in Chapter 60, verse 1: Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the Glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
It is high time to name this Glorious Redeemer. It is He who was born in Bethlehem in the stable, who was given the Name of YESHUA, who fulfilled all that was written of Him, and who declared to His people, I AM the Light of the world. He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.
(John 8, verse 12).
Of Him the Sacred Record bears witness in this concluding declaration. For GOD, Who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of YESHUA, the Messiah.
Believe on Him, and your darkness will be turned into light. Shalom.
